Kalanchoe plant named ‘Paso’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Paso’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniform plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; deep red-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Paso’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Paso’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-floweringKalanchoe cultivars with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2003, of a proprietary Kalanchoeblossfeldiana selection identified as code number 4692 (01), notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with Kalanchoe blossfeldiana‘Amora’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoewas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Paso’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Paso’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniform plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching plant habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.    -   6. Deep red-colored flowers.    -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower earlier than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Kalanchoe are darker red in        color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the maleparent, ‘Amora’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of‘Amora’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe grow faster than plants of        ‘Amora’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower earlier than plants of        ‘Amora’.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have darker red-colored flowers        than plants of ‘Amora’.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana ‘Tenorio’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,617. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Tenorio’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of        ‘Tenorio’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flowered earlier than plants of        ‘Tenorio’.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Tenorio’.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Tenorio’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Tenorio’ had lighter red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Kalanchoe plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Paso’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in De Lier, The Netherlands in aglass-covered greenhouse during the spring and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial Kalanchoe production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 19° C.to 26° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 21° C. and lightlevels ranged from 10,000 lux to 50,000 lux. Plants were grown in 10-cmcontainers and received long day/short night conditions (more than 14hours of light) for about four weeks; plants then receivedphotoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hoursdarkness) until flowering. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photographand the description were taken. In the detailed description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Paso’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana            selection identified as code number 4692 (01), not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Amora’, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 10 days at            temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at            temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; greyish white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright and uniform plant habit;            freely flowering habit with numerous compound cymes;            inverted triangle with rounded crown; appropriate for 10-cm            to 15-cm containers; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 17 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 15 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about six to            eight lateral branches develop per plant; pinching (removal            of the terminal apex) is not required but will enhance            lateral branch development.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 11 cm to 14 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm to 6 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 137A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.        -   Quantity per plant.—About 7 to 10 mature leaves and about 13            to 20 generative leaves.        -   Length.—About 10.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 8.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            coriaceous; succulent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A to 137B. Developing            and fully developed foliage, lower surface: Close to 137B;            venation, close to 137B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 8 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A to 137B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Flowers arranged singly in            compound dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils; uniform            and freely flowering habit with usually about 25 open            flowers and about 25 flower buds per lateral branch and more            than 150 open flowers and flower buds per plant; flowering            continuously for at least six weeks.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night            conditions or during November and December in The            Netherlands; flower initiation and development can also be            induced under artificial short day/long conditions (at least            14 hours of darkness).        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit; under short day/long            night photoinductive conditions, about eight to ten weeks            are required; actual time to flower is primarily dependent            upon temperature and light intensity.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance            for about 42 days under interior environmental conditions;            individual flowers last about 19 days on the plant; flowers            persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.3 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid            with development. Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About            2.5 mm. Color: Between 38C and 39C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four fused at the base. Length: About            9 mm. Width: About 5.5 mm. Aspect: Flat to partially            upright. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 44A; color            does not fade with development. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 43C to 43D.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four fused at the base. Length: About            9 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:            Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright.            Texture, immature and mature, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth; glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            138D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm.            Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight            per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther length:            About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of pollen:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil            number: About four per flower. Pistil length: About 1 mm.            Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 138D. Stigma            shape: Flat. Stigma color: Close to 8D. Ovary color: Close            to 138D.        -   Seed.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:            Close to 166C.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Kalanchoes.

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Paso’ as illustrated anddescribed.